Numbering-machine.



s. HOLLINGSWORTH.

NUMBERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. Z8, 1908.

u: xi vlmam 1 Patented June 14, 1910.

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w TWTTW s. HOLLINGSWORTH.

NUMBERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28, 1908.

961,444. Patented June 14, 1910.

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NUMBEBING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 28, 1908.

Patented June 14, lglO.

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SAMUEL HOLLINGSWORTH, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN SALES BOOK COMPANY, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW' YORK.

NUMBERING-MACHINE.

Application filed March 28, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL HoLLiNGswoR'rH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plainfield, in the count-y of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Numbering-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the numbering mechanisms for printing machines, whereby a regular consecutive order of ascending or descending numerals or other characters is printed upon a running web of paper, and automatically repeated indefinitely, my improvements being applicable more particularly to printing machines used in the manufacture of manifolding counter check books, and sales or memorandum books of a like character, especially where the consecutive numbering is to be repeated on different portions of each leaf; as, for instance, upon a stub, an entry portion, and one or more det-achable coupons.

My objects are to provide means for facilitating the adjustment of the numbering disks to meet the varying requirements of the trade; to reduce the time required for setting a machine for running off an order; and to render the operation o f the actuating mechanisms for turning the numbering disks positive and accurate under all speeds.

I attain my objects by constructing the machine in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a plan view of a portion of my improved machine, parts being shown broken out to economize space; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. l; Fig. 3, an enlarged sectional detail showing the actuating mechanism for imparting the consecutive partial rotations to the numbering disks; Fig. 4, an end view of a portion of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a detail showing means for attaching additional numbering disks; Figs. 6, 7, and 8, details of the numbering disks; and Figs. 9, l0, and ll, details of the actuating cams.

Like numerals refer to like parts in the several views.

The machine comprises what may be termed a printing cylinder 1, and an impression cylinder 2, said cylinders being rotated in unison by suitable gearing, not shown. The printing cylinder consists of two wheels 3, spaced apart upon a shaft 4, these wheels Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented June 14, 1910.

serial No. 423,4;80.

having flat rims, upon which are mounted independent circumferentially adjustable rings 5, said rings being split and fastened in their adjusted positions by means of clamping screws 6. Each ring is provided with a plurality of equidistant outwardly projecting arms 7, provided with journal bearings to receive the arbors 8, which carry the numbering disks 9. In order to meet the usual requirements I have shown three of these arbor supporting rings 5 upon each wheel, paired ofi' on the two wheels to carry three sets of arbors. Each arbor in a set is positioned between arbors in the other sets; or, in other words, the arbors in each set alternate with the arbors in the other sets. The sequence of disks carried by the arbors in any one set are thus susceptible of simultaneous adjustment to or from the corresponding disks in the other sets, when spacing the repeated numerals on the running web according to requirements, by simply loosening the pair of rings upon which that particular set of arbors is mounted, and turning them in one direction or the other.

The machine, as herein represented, is arranged for numbering from one to fifty, and there are, therefore, five arbors mounted upon each pair of rings, each arbor being provided with one or more of the numbering disks 9, the sequence of disks on the arbors in each set carrying on their outer peripheries ten numerals each, arranged as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. As it is usual to print several orders side by side on a single web of paper, there will be as many disks on each set of arbors as may be required in numbering the leaves, and parts of leaves, on these different orders. In order to adjust the numbering disks longitudinally upon the arbors, to locate the numerals where required upon the web, I provide the disks with keys 1l, to engage the groove l0 upon the arbors; and, to hold the disks in their longitudinal adjustment, I locate a retaining spring 13 in a groove l2, formed on the inner periphery of the disks. These retaining springs are cut to straddle the keys 1l in the disks, and have their ends bent to opposite sides, as shown in Fig. 8, so as to engage the sides of the groove l2, to prevent side play in the disks on the arbors. The springs are sprung around the arbors sufficiently tight to hold the disks firmly in place, when the machine is running. By this lll) arrangement, set screws and the like devices are avoided, and the disks may be quickly pushed by hand on or off the arbors and into the desired positions thereon, and held in such positions without further attention.

The arbors, at one end, are mounted in journal bearings which are of the same diameter as the arbors, thereby permitting the arbors to be withdrawn from the machine through these journal bearings, if their removal is desired. At the other end the arbors are reduced at 14,(see Fig. 3),and fitted into the arbor ends 15, journaled in the bearings at that side of the machine. The arborends 15 are provided on the inward side with iianges 16, which ride against the inside face of the journal bearings, and through which a set screw is passed to couple the arbors and arbor ends together. These arbor ends project outwardly beyond the journal bearings, and are reduced in diameter at 17, and again at 18, the reduced portion 18 having` fastened upon it a headblock 19, in which are slidably mounted, in a circle, the pins 20. These pins, of which there are ten in each head, are provided on their inward ends with grooves 21, which engage a cam 22, formed around the outer periphery of the sleeve 23, which is mounted upon the portion 17 of the arbor end. This sleeve is provided at its inward end with a flange which abuts against the outward face of the journal bearing, and is provided with diametrically opposite notches 24, one of said notches being engaged by a retainer-plate 25 fastened upon the outward side of the journal bearing. Endwise motion of the arbors is prevented by means of the flange 16 and the head 19 on the arbor ends, which engage respectively the inward face of the journal bearing, and the outward rim of the cam sleeve 23.

Adjacent the heads 19 on the several arbor ends is a stationary cam 26, in the form of a projecting spiral band fastened to the periphery of a spider 27 said spider being adapted to be adjustably mounted upon a projection formed therefor on a bushing or the side frame of the machine around the journal bearing for the shaft 4, said spider being held in proper adjustment by means of the clamping bolt 28.

The rings 5, when loosened for adjustment, are retained upon the rim of the wheels 3 by means of the washers 29 fastened upon each side of the rim by means of the set screws 30, which enter the tapped holes 31, provided therefor, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Should occasion arise for the placing of additional repeating numerals on the web, as where an order calls for a slip having a stub, an entry portion, and two coupons, I provide an eXtra set of arbors and attach these arbors by means of the brackets 32,

(see Fig. 5,) to the arms 7 of the middle rings 5, said brackets being fastened upon the arms 7 by means of set screws 34, entered into the tapped holes 35, (see Figs. 2, 3, and 5.) The brackets 32 are slotted at 33, where engaged by the set screws, so that the arbors carried by these brackets may be set at the required distance from the arbors mounted on the arms 7; and the arbors are set in proper radial adjustment by means of adjusting screws 36, the heads of which bear against the rings 5.

The arms 7 on the outward and inward rings upon each of the wheels 3 are bent toward the-middle ring so as to bring all the journal bearings for the arbors in circumferential alinement. The arbors are thus made all of the same length, and all the parts thereof interchangeable; and the pin heads 19 are also all positioned in circumferential alinement, so as to have the pins projected therefrom properly engaged by the spiral cam band 26.

In operation, after the arbors and their respective disks have been properly adj usted for the work in hand, and the machine set in motion, it will be evident, from an inspection of Figs. 3 and 4, that, as the arbors revolve about the shaft 4, they will be partially rotated, at each revolution, to bring the consecutive numerals upon the numbering disks into printing position, by reason of the engagement of the projected pins 20 with the spiral cam band 26. The pins 2() are projected into engagement with the cam band by meansy ofthe cam 22 on the sleeve 23, said cam being so positioned that the pins on one side of the head 19 will be retracted sufficiently to permit them to pass across the cam band while the projected pins on the opposite side are acted upon by the cam to rotate the head. As these pins are carried around the cam,l they will be moved in one direction or the other, according to the direction of rotation, a distance equal to the space between pin centers; thereby imparting one-tenth of a rotation to the arbors, as the machine is herein illustrated. This partial rotation brings the next pin in order into engagement with the cam band, said pin being projected into proper position as it travels around the fixed sleeve cam 22. It will be noted that this action of the cam is positive, and that the arbors will be held against any rotative movement in their bearings, eXcept that controlled by the cam band, by reason of the continuous engagement of the projected pins 20 with said band. The cam 26 and the heads 19 are made adjustable, in order that they may be so set as to cause the disks to assume their proper printing positions when in contact with the paper passing over the impression cylinder; and it will be understood that the cam 26 will be given a constant radius for a portion of its length in order that there shall be no turning motion in the arbors during this printing period. Should it be desired to rotate the arbors in the opposite direction, where the sequence of the numbering is required to be reversed, the sleeves 23 on the arbor ends will be released from the retainers 25, and turned one-half way around and again locked in position by means of the retainers, which then enter the diametrically opposite notches 24. This reversal of the cam disks will cause the pins 20 to be projected from the opposite side of the heads 19; and will, consequently, cause a reversal in the direction of the partial rotations of the arbors. Should it be required to add or remove numbering disks, this may readily be done bv releasing the reduced portions lll of the arbors from the arbor ends l5; and either partially or wholly withdrawing the arbors through the opposite journal bearings. This arrangement also permits the arbors and disks in any set to be entirely removed from the machine, if desired. The rapidity and ease with which the machine may be set to accomplish the work, according to the varying requirements met with under the demands of the trade, will, therefore, be clearly apparent. The numbering disks will be inked as they approach the impression cylinder by means of a suitably located ink font and inking rolls, as indicated at 37, in Fig. 2.

Vhile I have shown the machine, as herein illustrated, arranged for printing in sequence from one to fifty, and also, by the reversal of the cam sleeves 23, from fifty to one, I do not limit myself to such arrangement. By varying the number of numerals displayed upon each disk and the number of disks in each set, and employing pin heads 19 to correspond, any desired sequence in the numbering may be obtained. Also, instead of employing numerals, I may provide the numbering disks with letters or other characters.

lVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. In a numbering machine, the co1nbination, with a shaft, of a plurality of journal bearings mounted thereon in two separated circles, arbors journaled in oppositely disposed bearings in the two circles, said bearings and arbors being divided into sets, the members of each set alternating with those of the other set or sets and being susceptible of simultaneous circumferential adjustment independent of the other set or sets, one or more numbering disks upon each arbor, and mechanism whereby the arbors are actuated to impart a partial rotation to the disks at each revolution of the shaft.

2. In a numbering machine, the combination of a pair of wheels spaced apart upon a shaft, a circumferentially adjustable ring upon the rim of each wheel, one or more arbors journaled between the Wheels in oppositely disposed bearings carried upon the rings, one or more numbering disks upon the arbors, and mechanism whereby the arbors are actuated to impart a partial rotation to the disks at each revolution of the wheels.

3. In a numbering machine, the combination of a pair of wheels spaced apart upon a shaft, a plurality of independent circumferentially adjustable rings upon the rim of each wheel, arbors j ournaled between the wheels in oppositely disposed bearings carried upon paired ofi' rings on the two wheels, one or more numbering disks upon the arbors, and mechanism whereby the arbors are actuated to impart a partial rotation to the disks at each revolution of the wheels.

4. In a numbering machine, the combination of a pair of wheels spaced apart upon a shaft, a plurality of independent circumferentially adjustable rings upon the rim of each wheel, a plurality of equidistant journal bearings carried upon each ring, all bearings upon each wheel being in circumferential alinement around the wheel, arbors journaled in oppositely disposed bearings, one or more numbering disks upon the arbors, and mechanism whereby the arbors are actuated to impart a partial rotation to the disks at each revolution of the Wheels.

5. In a numbering machine, the combination of a plurality of arbors revolving in a circular path, said arbors being arranged in sets and the arbors in one set alternating with those of the other set or sets, means for circumferentially adjusting the arbors in each set simultaneously and independently of the other set or sets, one or more numbering disks upon the arbors, and mechanism whereby the arbors as they revolve around the circle are actuated to impart consecutive partial rotations to the disks.

6. In a numbering machine, the combination, with an arbor traveling in a circular path, of a spiral cam positioned at one side of said path, a plurality of longitudinally movable pins set in a circle around the end of the arbor adjacent said cam in guideways fixed to the arbor parallel with its axis, means for consecutively projecting the pins at one point in said circle into engagement with the cam, means for retracting the pins after they have traveled around the cam, and one or more numbering disks upon the arbor.

7. In a numbering machine, the combina tion with an arbor traveling in a circular path, of a spiral cam positioned at one side of said path, a head fastened upon the end of the arbor adjacent said cam, a plurality of longitudinally movable pins set in a circle in said head around and parallel to the axis of the arbor, a fixed cam surrounding the arbor back of the head and engaged by said pins, said cam being adapted to project the pins into engagement with the spiral cam at one point in said circle and to retract the pins after passing said point, and one or more numbering disks upon the arbor.

8. In a numbering machine, the combination, with an arbor traveling in a circular path, of a spiral cam positioned at one side of said path, a plurality of longitudinally movable pins set in a circle around the end of the arbor adjacent said cam in guideways fixed to the arbor parallel with its aXis, means for consecutively projecting the pins at one point in said circle into engagement with the cam, means for retracting the pins after they have traveled around the cam, means for changing the point of projection of the pins to a diametrically opposite position in said circle whereby to reverse the direction of rotation of the arbor, and one or more numbering disks upon the arbor.

9. In a numbering machine, the combination, with a shaft, of a plurality of journal bearings mounted thereon in two separated circumferential alinements, arbor ends journaled in said bearings at one side of the machine, arbors adapted to be inserted through the bearings upon the opposite side of the machine and to be removably coupled to said arbor ends, numbering disks adapted to be slipped upon said arbors and rotated therewith, andY mechanism operating upon the arbor ends whereby consecutive partial rotations will be imparted to the arbors at each revolution of the shaft.

10. The combination, with a numbering machine arbor provided with a longitudinal groove, of a numbering disk adapted to slide upon the arbor and having a key to engage the groove, and a retaining spring comprising a split ring fitted into a groove formed around the inner periphery of the disk and adapted to be sprung around the arbor.

In testimony whereof I have afXed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL HOLLINGSWORTH.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM BUDDY, HENRY EGGERDING. 

